Friday, 3 March 2017

Hurry up Spring!

I have been feeling particularly meh! the last couple of weeks. I'm sure it is something to do with the weather. The damp, grey days have become so wearisome. I have appreciated the Winter months while they lasted, but enough now. My body is crying out for warmth, sunshine and blue skies.

I have been meaning to get into the garden to tidy up and dig over, but the cold and damp have put paid to my good intentions, preferring instead to stay indoors in a state of semi-hibernation.

To make the most of my time I attempted to make a dent in the yarn stash at the bottom of my wardrobe by making another blanket - they always come in useful, right? What I didn't realise, however, is that for some reason my idea of stash busting involved me buying even more yarn! I'm not quite sure where I went wrong with this.

I am getting desperate now to get fresh air into my lungs without trudging through mud and my fingers and toes going numb with the cold. I have plans for our garden. The furniture needs a coat of paint. Seeds and gardening gloves have been bought and what I lack in knowledge about what the heck I'm supposed to do with them, I will try and make up for in enthusiasm.

The house is ready for a good Spring clean. I'm looking forward to having the windows wide open, a good clear out, washing on the line and cups of tea in the garden.

34 comments:

I think you've summed up just how I feel. As much as I love our seasonal changes, I'm craving some sunshine, perhaps more than usual for the time of year. I keep planning to sort the garden out, but just can't face it yet. Your blanket is lovely, just the thing for a good snuggle xx

your photos are always so beautiful and peaceful. I love your colour palette.

I never worry about doing things the 'right' way when it comes to gardening (much to Bill's disgust and horror). My view is everything wants to live, so just chuck seeds in a pot and stand back. Something will happen! xx

Thank you Sadie. I managed to get into the garden this week. Grass has been cut and soil dug. The seed planting will wait until the beginning of next month once I've managed to fashion some sort of cover for the raised bed to keep the cats off. X

Don't ye fret Jules...one day it will happen...you'll wake up and pull back the curtains and some magical properties will take control of your mind and alter what was dormant over the Winter into renewed enthusiasm...perhaps semi hibernation years ago saved our bodies from needless tasks...wanting to work outside in the garden could have led to illness in us and not done the ground any favours either. Rather than fight these primeval feelings let's be guided by them. x

I've been feeling this way right the way through winter, spring can't come fast enough for me. Your white roses are beautiful, I love the simplicity of understated flowers like these, they have a certain elegance about them. I had to laugh at you buying more yarn to stash bust with, isn't that always the case.

I'm living in sweaty Betty Thailand and would love to feel the cool air and oh for a lung full of fresh air! I definitely do think there is something in that SAD: seasonal affective disorder. Let's hope your spring hurries along soon! Wren x

Hurry up Spring! Amen to that 😊 but it is coming slowly, and right this moment there is a shiny yellow thing popping tentatively from behind the clouds at Bag End, hurrah!

As to having more enthusiasm than experience with your seeds, you could do worse than look at some of the videos and Monthly Updates on Charles' site:http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/Although he is only growing edibles, most of the "how to sow, how to look after baby plants' information is the same whether you are growing peas or pansies.

And as Jackie has already said, you do soil more damage than good if you tramp around on it when the ground is too wet and cold.

A shiny yellow thing has recently made an appearance here too. Hurray! Thank you for the link Jayne. I will have a look later but may just go along with my 'sow and hope' idea. I managed to cut the grass and turn the soil this week so it's looking ok at least. X

Morning again Jules, can I urge you to find a few minutes to look at Charles' "No dig" approach - turning soil is absolutely not necessary and all it does is disturb billions of beneficial microbes & bacteria and introduce fresh air to an environment that works best when anaerobic.

I do not dig anywhere these days, unless it is to make a hole to plant something in. Saves hours of wear and tear on the back and definitely does not impede the growth rate of anything in the garden :)

Thank you Jayne. I did have a good look. I now have a severe case of garden envy! I probably shouldn't have said 'turning' the soil. What I actually did was dig out a lot of old plants which were initially used in the raised bed just to keep the pesky cats off. I am more than happy not to dig if it isn't necessary. X

I quite like going for a walk in the cold, fresh air, but I can understand not wanting to garden in it. I've already started Spring Cleaning my place, although the enthusiasm wore off after a couple of days, I'm hoping it comes back soon! :D

I don't so much mind cold and fresh. It's the muddy and damp that has been getting me down. I have decided the Spring cleaning is going to have to be a gradual process. Too many interruptions. The trouble is once the weather is improving I want to be outdoors all the time. At least that way I don't see the dust. X

Well, of course you needed to buy more yarn to "round off" what you already had! It makes perfect sense to me! The colors in your blanket look very pretty and spring-like. I hope spring comes soon so you can go outside and plant your garden. Here's to longer days and warmer weather.

Jules, your post could have been written for me. I feel the same. A bit low and a bit hemmed in. I have loved the cosy winter months but now I'm ready to throw the windows and doors open and welcome spring. I am also desperate to get out in the van!

The colours you've chosen for your blanket are lovely, you have a good eye. I also end up with more yarn than I'm supposed to be getting rid of as well!

Hope you're able to get out and about soon. Spring is definitely on her way, we have quite a few green shoots on our plants :)

There has definitely been a shift in the weather since I posted this. We have been blessed with a few sunny days this week which has made such a difference.Oh yes, the van! Do you have plans as to where you are going this year? I'll look forward to reading of your travels. X

Oh yes, I hear you. I have felt so sleepy these last few weeks, my energy levels have been at an all-time low. I too am desperate for spring and you've articulated my feelings as well here. I'm really looking forward to having the windows wide open, all day long, without freezing. I have to say the blanket it lovely, even if it did involve the purchasing of more yarn. x

It's been a long, grey Winter and now I just want to feel my body relax in the warmth of some sun. Hopefully it won't be much longer as there has been a slight shift in the weather this week. The blanket is still a work in progress. I hope I get it finished soon though, as a blanket just seems to me to be a Winter sort of project. X